TEXT: John 4:1-42

SUBJECT: Exposition of John #10: Conversation in Samaria

Today brings us to the tenth sermon in our study of John's Gospel. Its design is to make us believe "Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God". May God impress this truth upon us. And make us feel its glory.

In Judea, our Lord achieved great success. Many thousands left John the Baptist and began following Him. He was no doubt gratified at the response, but also leery of it. His popularity stirred envy in the rulers who lacked it. And threatened a deadly response.

Aware of the danger, our Lord left Judea for His hometown of Galilee. The retreat was not cowardly, but tactical. He would one day "set His face to go to Jerusalem"--but not this day. His "hour had not yet come".

But someone else's had. About half-way between Judea and Galilee was the Samaritan city of Sychar. It was built a well Jacob had dug centuries before. Our Lord sat down to rest there and sent His disciples out for something to eat. While they were gone, He met someone--a Samaritan woman. At about noon she came to the well to draw water. Never suspecting the "water" she'd find that day!

Left to themselves, our Lord strikes up a conversation, "Give me a drink" he asks. The woman is surprised: Jews had no social contact with Samaritans. To drink from the same container was unthinkable.

But a bigger surprise awaits her: "If you knew the gift of God and who it was who says to you, `Give me a drink', you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water".

"Living water" can be understood in two ways: Literally, it refers to running water which is fresher and tastes better than standing water. Or, figuratively; it stands for the refreshment that only God provides.

The woman takes it literally. But, she wonders, how can he provide this "living water"? He has no bucket to draw with; and--if he can get it without digging a well, he must be greater than one of Samaria's--and Israel's--most revered figures, Jacob. Surely, he's not going that far, is he?

Yes He is. And farther. His water will slake her spiritual thirst forever. It will be like having a "fountain of water" inside her. Not even death will stench the flow. Toplady called it

"Fountain of never ceasing grace".

The woman is sold! "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw".

She doesn't get it. She's thinks He is talking about natural water. But our Lord is very patient. If she can't follow His metaphors, He'll speak literally. "Go, call your husband and come here."

"I have no husband" she replies.

"You have well said, `I have no husband', for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly".

The lady is a tramp.

Why does He bring this up? To humble her? To convict her of sin? I don't think so. "Go get your husband" somehow relates to "Sir, give me this water". Here's how, it seems to me: She thinks her need is one thing. If only she could obtain pure water without lugging that bucket around all day! But it is quite another. It isn't indoor plumbing she needs so badly, but moral cleansing and spiritual renewal. "Go get your husband" recalls her deeper need--the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

The woman is deeply impressed. "Sir, I perceive you are a prophet". One doesn't meet a prophet every day, and so, of course, she wants to discuss the burning issues of the day with Him--all of which are secondary! "Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place one ought to worship".

"This mountain" means "Mount Gerizim" where the people of God had worshiped long ago. And where the Samaritans thought God had placed His Name forever. "Jerusalem", of course, refers to the Temple, where Jews thought God had set His glory. Who's right?

Technically, the Jews are right and the Samaritans are wrong. But the question is moot. "The hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth".

The old way of doing things is nearly over; our Lord is introducing a new order. From now on, the worship of God will be done "in spirit and truth". "Spirit" means "of the soul and not of the body"--sincere. "Truth" means "according to God's Word". The Samaritans did not worship "in truth". The Jews did not worship "in spirit". But the new people of God--disciples of Jesus Christ--would worship in both "spirit and truth"--from the heart and by the Book.

The woman is intrigued. She looks forward to one day meeting the Messiah who will fill in the details. The Lord turns to her and says: "I who speak to you am He".

Jesus has identified Himself as the Messiah or Christ. Now, the Samaritan woman--and you--have to decide: "Is He?" A bit earlier she called Him a prophet. But she can't leave it there. If He is a true prophet, He must also be Messiah--for He has so prophesied. But if He's not Messiah, neither is He a true prophet. He's a lunatic or an imposter. She had to choose long ago. You have to choose now. Is He Messiah or madman? Is He Lord or liar? Middle choices are excluded. "Choose you this day".

After some time at the market, the disciples return and are flabbergasted by what they see. Their Teacher is talking to a Samaritan! They wanted to bawl her out or ask Him in He were out of His mind, but held back for the moment.

She left--not intimidated--but thrilled to tell others Whom she had found. "Come see a Man who told me all that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?"

In the meantime, the disciples urged Him to eat. But He didn't like what they were serving; He preferred another dish: "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work".

In other words, it was not food that energized Him, but God's will.

Speaking of food, it's about time to harvest it. The disciples thought reaping took place four months after planting. And so it does, most of the time. But not always. God can intervene to narrow the gap--eliminate it if He wants. Amos 9:13 is an example: "Behold the days are coming, says the LORD, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed".

This is one of those times. The seed has been planted in the woman of Samaria. And now, just minutes later, "the fields are white for harvest". She has told everyone about Christ. And here they come to see for themselves. Within two days "Many of the Samaritans of that city" would confess "This is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world".

The disciples did no plowing, no planting, no weeding, no watering, but the harvest in theirs! Go reap it. And share in its bounty.

Jesus Christ has long been at work in this world, preparing it for harvest. He has plowed it with His Law--convicting men of their sins and making them feel their judgment. He has sowed it with His Word--printed, preached, and gossiped. He has watered it the blood, sweat, and tears of His people. Now, He urges us to thrust in the sickle and reap the souls of men.

Why should we do this? Because He is "the Christ, the Savior of the world". And we ought to love nothing more than hearing others say it.

We long to see Thy churches full

That all the chosen race

May, with one voice and heart and soul,

Sing Thy redeeming grace.